Nail polish removing device



Feb. 20, 1968 D. KEESEE 3,369,553

NAIL POLISH REMOVING DEVICE Filed Oct. 12. 1964 INVENTOR Dixie Keesee ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofifice 3,369,553 Patented F eb. 20, 1968 3,369,553 NAIL POLISH REMOVING DEVICE Dixie Keesee, 4040 Denton Highway, Fort Worth, Tex. 76117 Filed Oct. 12, 1964, Ser. No. 403,076 1 Claim. (Cl. 132-735) This invention relates to a nail polish removing device, and it concerns more particularly a device for the use of manicurists for applying a polish removing fluid, which may consist essentially of a solvent suitable for use in removing nail polish, to a persons nails individually, one at a time, while at the same time subjecting the nails to a vigorous scrubbing action in the presence of the polish removing fluid whereby the polish is effectively removed therefrom and the nails are thoroughly cleaned.

Manicurists, in removing nail polish from patrons fingers using the usual polish removing fluid, which may contain acetone or other suitable solvent, usually employ a swab, consisting of a Wad of cotton, for applying the polish removing fluid to the nails individually, one at a time, while at the same time scrubbing the nails to remove the polish therefrom.

An object of this invention is to provide a device for the purpose described which may be used conveniently both for applying the polish removing fluid to the nails and for scrubbing the nails to remove the polish therefrom, in the same manner that cotton swabs have been used heretofore, while at the same time avoiding the need for the operator to spoil her own manicure, as by contact with the polish removing fluid, at any time.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device as described which is strictly sanitary, and which includes, in combination with a holder as hereinafter described which may be conveniently grasped in the fingers, a disposable absorbent pad which advantageously may be discarded after having been used once, as for removing the polish from the nails of a single patron.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device as described which is characterized by its simplicity as well as its convenience and efliciency, and its attractive appearance, and which may be produced inexpensively and is durable in use.

While devices which consist essentially of an absorbent pad in association with a holder therefor have been employed heretofore either as applicators for polish removing fluid or for removing nail polish, substantially in the manner and for the purposes described, nevertheless this invention, as hereinafter described, is believed to be new.

This invention contemplates a device for the purpose described which comprises, in combination, a rigid, imperforate cup shaped holder which is conformable to the nail joint of an individual finger and is receivable thereon, and which may be conveniently grasped between the fingers of an operator, and a disposable absorbent pad, substantially coextensive with the peripheral inner surface of the holder, removably inserted therein and forming an inner lining therefor, and which advantageously may be saturated with polish removing fluid upon pouring a quantity of polish removing fluid into the holder.

In use, polish removing fluid may be applied to an individual nail, while at the same time subjecting the nail to a vigorous scrubbing action in the presence of the polish removing fluid, whereby the polish is effectively removed therefrom and the nail is thoroughly cleaned, by inserting the nail joint of a finger into the holder, after first having saturated the pad with polish removing fluid in the manner described, and thereafter imparting a rotary, twisting motion to the holder, by manipulation of the fingers, while extending in a substantially horizontal position the finger having the holder received thereon.

The invention will be readily understood by referring to the following description and the accompanying drawiing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a substantially actual size exploded perspective view of a nail polish removing device embodying the invention, showing the holder in its detached position relative to its base, as seen from the top and one side thereof;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view, partly in section taken on a median line and partly broken away, showing the holder in its detached position and showing the disposable absorbent pad partially inserted in the holder, as seen from the top and one side thereof;

FIG. 3 is a sectional elevational view, taken on a median line, showing the holder supported on its base; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the holder in its detached position, with the disposable absorbent pad operatively positioned therein, being used to remove polish from a finger nail.

Referring to the drawing, the nail polish removing device of the invention includes a rigid, imperforate cup shaped holder, designated generally by the numeral 1, which is generally cylindrical and is rounded at its bottom end for convenience in grasping it between the fingers. The holder 1 is conformable to the nail joint of an individual finger and is receivable thereon.

A disposable absorbent pad, indicated generally by the numeral 2, which is substantially coextensive with the peripheral inner surface of the holder 1, is removably inserted therein and forms an inner lining therefor. The pad 2 advantageously may be saturated with polish removing fluid upon pouring a quantity of polish removing fluid into the holder 1.

In use, the nail joint of a finger is inserted into the holder 1, after first having saturated the pad 2 with polish removing fluid in the manner described, and thereafter a rotary, twisting motion is applied to the holder 1, by manipulation of the fingers, while extending in a substantially horizontal position the finger having the holder 1 received thereon.

The holder 1 has a detachable base, indicated generally be the numeral 3, on which it rests when not in use. The base 3, which is circular, has a central socket 4 in the upper face thereof for engagement by an integral axial projection 5 on the bottom end of the holder 1 whereby the holder 1 may be removably secured to the base 3.

The holder 1 and the base 3 advantageously may be formed of brightly colored molded plastic material, glass, or metal, for example, or combinations thereof. The absorbent pad 2 may be made of sponge rubber, for example.

The base 3, if metal, advantageously may be magnetized for engagement with a metal supporting surface, to prevent displacement relative thereto, and preferably is of comparatively small diameter, relative to the diameter of the holder 1, to conserve space.

The absorbent pad 2, which is disposable, a fresh pad 2 being supplied for each customer, advantageously may comprise a substantially rectangular piece of molded cellular resilient sheet material, such as sponge rubber, which in its operative position overlies the inner wall surface of the holder 1, beginning at the top thereof, with its vertical edges meeting.

The holder "1 advantageously may have a radially in- Wardly and longitudinally extending integral projection, indicated by the numeral 6, for abutting engagement between the meeting edges of the absorbent pad 2 to prevent circumferential displacement of the absorbent pad 2 relative to the holder 1.

The invention may be modified in various ways Without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

I claim:

1. In a device for the use of manicurists for applying a polish removing fluid, which may consist essentially of a solvent suitable for use in removing nail polish, to a persons nails individually, one at a time, while at the same time subjecting the nails to a vigorous scrubbing action in the presence of the polish removing fluid whereby the polish is effectively removed therefrom and the nails are thoroughly cleaned, the combination of a rigid, imperforate cup shaped holder which is conformable to the nail joint of an individual finger and is receivable thereon, and which may be conveniently grasped between thetfingers of an operator, and a disposable absorbent pad, substantially coextensive with the peripheral inner surface of the holder, removably inserted therein and forming an inner lining therefor, and which advantageously may be saturated with polish removing fluid upon pouring a quantity of polish removing fluid into theholder, the absorbent pad comprising a substantially rectangular piece of molded cellular resilient sheet material which in its operative position overlies the inner wall surface of the holder, beginning at the top thereof, with its vertical edges meeting, and the holder having a radially inwardly and longitudinally extending integral projection ing socket therein for engagement by said projection whereby the holder may be removably secured to the base.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,227,297 5/1917 Neidlinger 222-92 2,424,509 7/1947 Singer 1597 2,595,704 5/1952 Rinehart 13273 2,642,999 6/1953 McPherson 248-206 2,713,693 7/1955 Jolmson 15-21() LOUIS G. MANCENE, Primary Examiner.

RICHARD A. GAUDET, Examiner.

G. E. MCNEILL, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A DEVICE FOR THE USE OF MANICURISTS FOR APPLYING A POLISH REMOVING FLUID, WHICH MAY CONSIST ESSENTIALLY OF A SOLVENT SUITABLE FOR USE IN REMOVING NAIL POLISH, TO A PERSON''S NAILS INDIVIDUALLY, ONE AT A TIME, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME SUBJECTING THE NAILS TO A VIGOROUS SCRUBBING ACTION IN THE PRESENCE OF THE POLISH REMOVING FLUID WHEREBY THE POLISH IS EFFECTIVELY REMOVED THEREFROM AND THE NAILS ARE THOROUGHLY CLEANED, THE COMBINATION OF A RIGID, IMPERFORATE CUP SHAPED HOLDER WHICH IS CONFORMABLE TO THE NAIL JOINT OF AN INDIVIDUAL FINGER AND IS RECEIVABLE THEREON, AND WHICH MAY BE CONVENIENTLY GRASPED BETWEEN THE FINGERS OF AN OPERATOR, AND A DISPOSABLE ABSORBENT PAD, SUBSTANTIALLY COEXTENSIVE WITH THE PERIPHERAL INNER SURFACE OF THE HOLDER, REMOVABLY INSERTED THEREIN AND FORMING AN INNER LINING THEREFOR, AND WHICH ADVANTAGEOUSLY MAY BE SATURATED WITH POLISH REMOVING FLUID UPON POURING A QUANTITY OF POLISH REMOVING FLUID INTO THE HOLDER, THE ABSORBENT PAD COMPRISING A SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR PIECE OF MOLDED CELLULAR RESILIENT SHEET MATERIAL WHICH IN ITS OPERATIVE POSITION OVERLIES THE INNER WALL SURFACE OF THE HOLDER, BEGINNING AT THE TOP THEREOF, WITH ITS VERTICAL EDGES MEETING, AND THE HOLDER HAVING A RADIALY INWARDLY AND LONGITUDINALY EXTENDING INTEGRAL PROJECTION FOR ABUTTING ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN THE MEETING EDGES OF THE ABSORBENT PAD TO PREVENT CIRCUMFERENTIAL DISPLACEMENT OF THE ABSORBENT PAD RELATIVE TO THE HOLDER, AND A DETACHABLE BASE PROVIDING A SUPPORT FOR THE HOLDER WHEN NOT IN USE, THE HOLDER HAVING AN INTEGRAL AXIAL PROJECTION ON ITS BOTTOM END AND THE BASE HAVING AN UPWARDLY FACING SOCKET THEREIN FOR ENGAGEMENT BY SAID PROJECTION WHEREBY THE HOLDER MAY BE REMOVABLY SECURED TO THE BASE. 